Shumlin said it's key that high school and college students have the opportunity to work alongside top employers. And train them for good paying, in demand jobs. Vermont expects to provide paid internships for about 700 students.

The governor announced that several businesses have been selected to receive grants through the department of labor's summer opportunity employment program, funded by the U.S. Department of Labor.

Recipients of this year's SOE awards are:

Soar Learning Center of St. Albans

ReSource Youth Build of Barre, Burlington and Morrisville

Burlington High School's "Ready, Set, Work" Program

City of Winooski Community Services Division

Boys and Girls Club of Rutland

Sunrise Family Center of Bennington

Youth Services of Brattleboro

NEK Human Services and Community Action organizations

Springfield School System "Alternative Classroom"

Montpelier Parks Department

Foxcroft Farm of Leicester

The Tutorial Center of Bennington.

In addition, recipients of this year's $350,000 state-funded Internship Program grants are: